Based on the institution of a technical services/population dialogue and the concept of participation and partnership, the participatory approach is the driving force behind PREVINOBA. Its main objective is to involve people closely in the design and implementation of all development activities in their local context and territory.
The participatory approach involves a series of stages, characteristic of a dynamic process (see table below 7). To follow these different phases/stages, various methods and tools are used: analysis/diagnosis (APRM), educational (RSGFSA) and communication (radio, slide-language, image boxes, etc.). This leads to the establishment of dialogue and the creation of popular involvement. For example, educational series designed by RSGFSA, such as "Living in a Green Environment", have stimulated men and women villagers to analyze their situation, identify their priorities and decide which actions to undertake. As a result, they mobilize their resources and know-how to realize what they want and to achieve their objectives.
Organization of the Participatory Approach Cycle
PHASES |
STAGES | ||
1 |
Programming |
1 |
Information/Knowledgeof action |
2 |
Awareness-building/Consciousness-raising | ||
3 |
Problem identification/Search for solutions | ||
4 |
Organization/Programming | ||
2 |
Programme realization and management |
5 |
Thematic training |
6 |
Evaluation of current activities | ||
3 |
Programme follow-up analysis |
7 |
Follow-up analysis |
4 |
Self-advancement |
8 |
Return to programming phase |
Components, objectives and results by phase
Phases |
Components |
Objectives |
Results | |
1 |
Programming actions at rural level |
· Knowledge of partners · Knowledge of environment and situations · Information exchange · Analysis, diagnosis · Definition of situations of reference · Awareness - building, consciousness-raising · Identification of problems · Search for solutions, development of local know-how · Creation of partnership |
Programming of grassroots activities by populations |
Willingness of different partners to act and definition of responsibilities |
2 |
Programme realization and management |
· Organization of taking over programmed activities · Research, improvement through thematic training activities and self-analysis of current actions |
Realization, management of programme |
Concerted involvement and decision-making |
3 |
Follow-up evaluation process |
· Global evaluation of results, process, participation and joint commitment |
Follow-up, joint evaluation of actions with contributors |
Rigour, correspondence to situation of reference |
4 |
Local self-advancement and self-development |
· Return to programming phase and different stages (including awareness- building) |
Progressive acqisition and control of tools for local self-development |
Solidarity and continuity of the involvement of all partners |
Land development and management plans
PREVINOBA has drawn up 20 land development and management plans (LDMP), of which 15 have been translated into the national language for more appropriate use by populations. In each village with a development plan, a village development committee (VDC) has been set up. The people make these LDMPs their own and from the outset they are responsible for their implementation with the participation of their different partners, including PREVINOBA.
APRM was used for the analysis/diagnosis and knowledge of the environment and land in which populations develop. Consciousness-raising of the various environmental stakes in play was carried out, calling for numerous exchange sessions between technical services and local populations. Identification of problems and the search for solutions were based on precise knowledge of the land, its potential, traditional resource management practices, etc. The role of technical officers was important for helping reflection and developing strategies, experience and know-how. The programming of actions that followed from these stages of reflection was characterized by the definition of objectives and expected results, organization of activities in time and space, the choice of those in charge and practical intervention measures, the means to mobilize, training and the necessary technical support.
The aim of the village development committees, authentic organizational teams, was to facilitate implementation and follow-up of the various activities.
Training and literacy
The implementation phase of LDMP often calls for the provision of training in themes which had been decided at the time of programming by the entire village community concerned. The training themes developed are tied to solutions identified by the people and support the realization of actions. Training thus aims to provide a complement to the technical knowledge necessary and to facilitate implementation of LDMPs. The training material used is diversified: giant writing pads, slides, film stills, brochures, popularization dossiers, etc.
During the first phase of the project, training in agro-forestry techniques was followed by 170 women and 286 men. During the second phase, training was given in activities related to tree nurseries, planting, assisted natural regeneration, windbreaks, soil defence and restoration, and the conservation of water and soils (SDR/WSC). This training covered both men and women, though available information does not indicate figures for either category.
Specific training was carried out with women in relation to the activities they wished to undertake. At the end of 1996, 1980 women had been trained in market gardening, 2382 in repair and construction of better ovens, 2224 in soap and cosmetic production, and 87 in the management of millet mills. Training was effected in the villages to avoid possible difficulties posed by travelling elsewhere.
Application of knowledge acquired in the course of the training cycles was immediate and led to very positive results. For example, there were clear signs of women's desire for better ovens. Despite the scarcity of clay, 8000 were introduced to family plots: 7000 were built by women, the other 1000 in metal or ceramic were purchased. For market gardening, a dry season activity practised in the nurseries, 65 villages put up an initial investment of 1 million CFA in 1994 and obtained revenue of 11.5 million CFA, even though part of the production was for self-consumption.
Functional literacy was introduced in 1993, in cooperation with a multitude of associations and partners: the Association for Training and Literacy in National Languages (ATLNL), World Vision International (WVI), the Support Project for Women's Advancement Groups (SPWAG), the Micro-Realization Project/European Development Fund (MRP/EDF), etc. In this manner, 26 literacy classes were opened bringing together 1115 listeners, of whom 90% were women. Literacy training turned out to be extremely useful in finding an accessible language for controlling the proposed new techniques in agricultural, forestry or craftwork production. In the same way, literacy training helped facilitate understanding and access to the mechanisms and principles of management and accountancy.
Micro-realizations
During the course of LDMP programming, a programme of accompanying measures was decided by the population. Its aim is to resolve certain essential needs such as water supply, or to develop income-generating activities such as the production of forest and fruit plants, poultry farming, cattle raising, etc. The activities of the accompanying programme can take the form of selective support or of micro-realizations 8. Very often, the project cannot financially support these activities because they lie outside the mandate of intervention, nor can the population assume the entire financial costs 9.
PREVINOBA has invested in the creation of micro-realizations. It has supported the population in an action feasibility study, the search for finance and the training of beneficiaries in income management. It has stimulated a partnership dynamic between different contributors in the region, numerous NGOs in particular. In this sense, the following is worthy of note: the introduction of 5 millet mills with the support of the Dutch embassy, 10 literacy classes with the help of ATLNL, 69 bore-holes and 5 wells equipped with wind pumps with the participation of WVI and League of Italian Volunteers (LIV), development of a sheep-raising operation for 13 persons with support from MRP/EDF. At the same time, mention should also be made of the installation of oil presses from which 10 women's advancement groups (WAG) have benefited, and the diffusion of horse-drawn carts for transporting agricultural inputs and harvests for 3 WAGs.
The results of these micro-realizations are outstanding. For example, for cattle raising, where women's involvement is important, in a cycle of 4 months the benefits are of the order of 50,000 CFA per head of cattle.
PREVINOBA has also reached an agreement with Senegalese Mutual Credit (SMC), which has opened a savings-credit line to finance women's retail businesses. 15 WAGs have received 3,650,000 CFA. Monthly repayments have exceeded the terms envisaged by SMC and the savings of 8 of these groups rose to 191,020 CFA in 2 months. PREVINOBA and SMC are currently studying ways to access credit for the setting up of centres for the purchase of basic commodities to satisfy supply needs.provides management training to ensure that WAGs can repay loans, guarantee paying off equipment such as millet mills and handle their savings accounts opened at the national SMC office.
7 Extract from "Participatory Approach, Communication and Management of Forest Resources in Saharan Africa, Balance and Perspectives", FAO, Rome, 1995.
8 see Annex 1, technical data on micro-realizations.
9 The participation of beneficiaries in the financing of a micro-realization is in the order of 20 to 25%.
